SolarionHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Sunburst

Solarion features the Sunburst keyword, which determines its starting power based on your mana base. When you cast Solarion, the game checks how many different colors of mana (White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green) were used to pay its 7 mana cost. It enters the battlefield with one +1/+1 counter for each of those colors. If you only use colorless mana, it enters with zero counters and will likely be put into the graveyard immediately unless an external effect increases its toughness.

The Doubling Process

Once Solarion is on the battlefield and no longer has summoning sickness, you can use its activated ability to double its +1/+1 counters. When this ability resolves, you count the number of +1/+1 counters currently on Solarion and add that many more. For example, if it has five counters, the ability adds five more, resulting in a total of ten. This exponential growth allows Solarion to outpace almost any other creature in a long game.

Timing and Strategy

Because Solarion relies on its tap ability to grow, protecting it is vital. You should typically activate the ability at the end of your opponent's turn to keep it safe during their main phases, or during your own turn if you are sure the path is clear. Remember that doubling counters does not count as 'putting' a specific number until the ability resolves, so responding to the ability with a removal spell can prevent the growth entirely.

Interaction examples

Maximizing Sunburst

If you spend one White, one Blue, one Black, one Red, one Green, and two colorless mana to cast Solarion, it enters the battlefield with five +1/+1 counters. On your next turn, you tap it to double those counters, bringing the total to ten +1/+1 counters.

Facing a Meteor Golem

Meteor Golem

If your opponent casts Meteor Golem and targets Solarion with its triggered ability, you can respond by tapping Solarion to double its counters. The counters are added first, but then Meteor Golem's ability resolves and destroys Solarion regardless of how large it has become.

The Artifact Assembly

Myr Battlesphere

While Myr Battlesphere provides a wide board presence with its Myr tokens, Solarion provides a single tall threat. In a deck running both, Solarion acts as the primary target for your opponent's removal, potentially clearing the way for your Myr Battlesphere to attack safely and use its triggered ability to deal direct damage.